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Traverse City California Short Term Rental

California Short Term Rental Insurance

August 11, 2022

   Over the last few years, short term rental (STR) properties have become extremely popular in and around Paso Robles, California. Insuring them has become less costly than when they…

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Figo Pet Insurance

August 2, 2022

Animal lovers know that our pets are a cherished part of the family. So purchasing insurance on them isn’t a new concept. In fact, the first pet insurance policy was…

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Workers Compensation Claim

California Worker’s Compensation Insurance

July 5, 2022

Workers’ compensation insurance is not only a crucial factor when running a business, many times it’s required by law, according to the California’s Workers’ Disability Compensation Act. Not all employers…

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California Golf Cart Insurance

Gap in California Home Policies for Golf Carts

July 1, 2022

Lets say you purchase a new golf cart to ride around in your neighborhood and perhaps across the street to a local golf course. Did you realize that home insurance…

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California Recreational Vehicle Insurance

Recreational Vehicle Insurance

June 10, 2022

                             California Recreational Vehicles Off Premises Whether you enjoy taking a ride on an ATV or seeing the beauty of the US one campground at a time, all recreational vehicles…

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The California Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) Refund

March 10, 2022

California’s MCCA has advised that refunds from our Auto Insurance No-Fault Reform Law passed in 2019, are on their way to California auto insurance consumers. Because the changes made by…

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7 Ways To Lower The Cost Of Home Insurance

November 1, 2021

The price you pay for your homeowner’s insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on the rates, credits, and endorsements available by your insurance company. Here are some things…

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How an Umbrella Protects you From More than Just Rain

April 8, 2021

With the passage of California’s auto insurance reform now becoming law, the immediate result will be a reduction in MCCA (California Catastrophic Claims Association) fees for all insured drivers. That…

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California Auto Reform Paperwork

April 8, 2021

Yes, you DID just fill out a bunch of paperwork a few months ago for your auto insurance renewal, and it is time to do it again! When the California…

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Flood Insurance Becoming A Necessity In California?

August 13, 2020

We get it – we aren’t a ‘coastal state’, and that is why in California, flood insurance isn’t talked about much; except when required by a Mortgage Company for those…

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How Your Insurance Score Impacts Premiums

July 13, 2020

We all know that our credit history affects the interest rate we pay for credit cards, home mortgages and auto loans, and that a low credit score can even be…

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Protecting Your California Rental Property

May 8, 2020

Rental homes have become quite controversial in small towns and communities here in Northern California. Why? Because where one person sees increased traffic, unknown neighbors and events; another sees profit;…

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California No Fault Reform Law: What Does it Mean For You?

February 20, 2020

  Last summer, I wrote about the California No Fault Auto Insurance Reform law right after it had been signed into effect. Since then, insurance agencies throughout the state have…

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Frozen Pipesicles

February 11, 2020

  Yes, that’s not even a word, though it does make you envision a topic we run into often in Northern California — frozen pipes. Does your home insurance cover…

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Who Is An Insured?

January 17, 2020

The question of ‘who is an insured’ doesn’t seem complicated, until a claim is denied by your insurance company due to their decision that someone is simply ‘not an insured’…

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Chargeable Accidents

October 9, 2019

You swerve to miss a deer and end up in the ditch causing damage to your vehicle from the impact; or perhaps you pull off the side of the road…

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Adulting is Hard

September 6, 2019

Yes, we know that adulting is hard, and that sometimes parents hold on too long and too tight when a child needs to take responsibility and do the ‘adulting’ thing.…

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Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value (New for Old)

August 8, 2019

You start a load of laundry and head down the road for a neighborhood barbeque.  Upon returning, you find water all over your laundry room and into your carpeted hallway.…

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Full Coverage Auto Insurance

July 18, 2019

One of the most common requests we receive as insurance agents from clients seeking auto insurance, is a quote for ‘full coverage’.  What does that even mean?  I have been…

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Home Sharing Coverage Issues

June 27, 2019

I’m still living in my home, so why do you need to know that I’m also renting it out?  Unfortunately, this seems to be a common question ‘after’ a claim,…

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California Auto Insurance Reform

June 18, 2019

The news has been busy recently with photos of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Mackinac Island signing into law the long-awaited and strongly controversial auto insurance reform bill that will drastically…

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You Have No Coverage

June 14, 2019

We understand how upsetting it can be for a client who has paid premiums for years with no claims, to turn one in and hear that it’s simply ‘not covered’…

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Do I Need To Insure My Bike?

April 26, 2019

  Quiz:  Do you know what a Pinarello Bolide, Dogma F8 Xlight, or a Cervelo P5 is?  Second Question:  Are you aware that they can cost you upwards of $10,000…

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Understanding Ordinance and Law

April 25, 2019

What is Ordinance and Law?  A frequently misunderstood coverage, ordinance and law is a property coverage issue that can be costly to owners of homes or commercial buildings that suffer…

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When Generations and Families Mix in the Workplace

March 15, 2019

As a Generation X employer, hiring and mentoring millennials makes for interesting situations; but when that millennial is your son, it makes for an even more unique scenario. I struggled…

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Storms Cause Neighborhood Storms

July 12, 2018

Once again mother nature caused some issues recently in Northern California with storms and high winds that brought trees down on buildings as well as vehicles. When a tree, regardless…

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Divorce And Division of Property

May 30, 2018

It happens. Relationships sometimes simply don’t work out, and you find yourself moving out of a home and dividing up assets. The insurance in these situations can be complicated for…

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What does ‘Named Peril’ Mean?

May 15, 2018

I don’t think anyone would argue that insurance jargon is, at times, very confusing. Even after being in this industry writing insurance policies for over 30 years, I at times…

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California Ranked #6 for Dog Bite Claims

April 27, 2018

Yes, we know that Fido is an adorable pet that ‘wouldn’t hurt anyone’. However, we also know that insurance companies pay millions of dollars each year for dog bite medical,…

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Factors YOU Control That Impact Your Auto Insurance Costs

April 19, 2018

Auto insurance rates in California continue to rise due to increasing medical costs. We are the only State with UNLIMITED medical coverage on our auto policies, and as medical costs…

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Shipt Grocery Driver Insurance

Shipt Drivers in California

April 14, 2018

So, I took the plunge! About 3 months ago I decided to give Shipt a whirl and see if it was all the hype that my busy professional mom girlfriends…

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Spring Toys can bring Financial Woes

March 23, 2018

As the snow leaves us here in Northern California, the trails and mud seem to call riders from all over to get out their ATVs and hit the dirt, sand…

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Claims on Vacant Homes Denied

January 8, 2018

You and your siblings deal with the excruciating decision to place your mother into a long-term care facility as she can no longer take care of herself due to either…

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Why Do Insurance Costs Vary So Much?

January 1, 2018

“Imagine the shock of hearing a quote $3,000.00 less than what you are paying for your insurance!” We just received a testimonial from this client who was floored at how…

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Should I Have High Deductibles?

December 25, 2017

  Your home insurance renewal arrives and like most people, you toss it in a drawer or cabinet once you have paid the bill, but you really don’t pay much…

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Forms of Auto Collision Coverage in California

December 18, 2017

California is somewhat unique when it comes to auto insurance in more ways than our Unlimited Medical benefits. When purchasing collision physical damage protection for your vehicles, you have 3…

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California’s Auto Insurance Reform Defeated

December 11, 2017

Once again, the attempt to control costs of California Auto Insurance has failed by a 45-63 vote earlier this month. California having the highest auto insurance costs in the nation…

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Does my roommate need Renters Insurance too?

December 6, 2017

In this day of un-related individuals all living together in a home that just one of them owns, or in an apartment or condo that is leased, renters’ insurance seems…

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How Much Do I Insure My Home For?

November 27, 2017

You paid $165,000 for your home, but your agent here in California thinks your ‘bargain purchase’ for a seasonal residence should be insured for $208,000. How can that be? We…

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Replacement Cost vs Market Value Issues

November 20, 2017

You find a major bargain for a rental property in Detroit California and only pay $65,000 for a home, but then after phone calls to 5 different insurance agencies in…

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Claims Reporting – When to Contact Your Agent

November 13, 2017

You find water in the basement level of your home, or you back your vehicle into your own basketball pole in the driveway; fortunately, your insurance agent is just a…

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Reverse Trick or Treat

October 30, 2017

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Uber & Lyft have arrived in Traverse City

October 28, 2017

  So, to answer the big insurance question – it’s a flat NO – your standard California auto insurance policy does NOT cover you while you are being a local…

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California Auto – Medical Order of Priority

October 11, 2017

California is often in the news about our auto insurance being the highest in the Nation. Truth! Why? – Because California is the ONLY State that provides UNLIMITED medical coverage…

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Salvage Autos – Hurricanes, Floods, Collisions

October 6, 2017

We realize that Northern California isn’t home to many floods or hurricanes, but we find when major storms occur like Hurricane Harvey, Californiaders end up with vehicles that come from…

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What Californiaders can learn from Hurricane Harvey

September 29, 2017

Our hearts go out to the victims of Hurricane Harvey, especially knowing that 85% of them have no flood insurance. These people face a crushing blow to their personal finances…

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You wrecked “Brad” and you want a new “Brad”

September 12, 2017

Yes, we realize that the Liberty Mutual television ad about wrecking a just purchased vehicle (she calls Brad), and not being able to purchase another one with the insurance proceeds,…

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College Kids – To Be… or Not to Be… On Their Own

September 7, 2017

  Your 19-year-old son is away at college, is listed as a ‘driver’ on your auto policy and is using a vehicle that you; their parent – owns and insures.…

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Teen Driver Safety Tips

August 30, 2017

Drivers education courses provide our teens with enough knowledge and hands on experience to get their license, but that’s about it.  I realized this as I watched my 16-year-old taking…

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Renters Insurance – Worth the cost of 2 Ristretto Venti Chocolate Brownie Iced Drinks?

August 24, 2017

Not only are kids moving back into their parents’ homes, now they are bringing their significant other and many times, other unrelated minor children with them. Today’s home can have…

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Client Relationships

August 15, 2017

Today I got the news that a long term client of mine passed away over the weekend. Every business owner gets these calls, and we empathize over the phone with…

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Why is Local Important?

August 11, 2017

Yes Amazon is quick, convenient, and all too easy to use. My 16-year-old doesn’t understand why I prefer to purchase what I can here locally in Traverse City. Just today…

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Cover Yourself with an Umbrella

April 23, 2017

An Umbrella Liability policy is a ‘separate’ policy that provides clients with an additional ‘layer’ of liability protection. The policy is placed ‘on top of’ your other insurance policies; hence…

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Home Insurance – Use Your 15 Minutes Wisely

September 27, 2016

15 Minutes can save you money now, but cost you thousands later.  Oh wait, they don’t tell you that. The price gun, the lizard, the mayhem guy.  We all have seen…

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How I found passion in – of all things – an insurance career

November 4, 2015

In 1988 with just a high school diploma for credentials, I answered a newspaper ad for a receptionist at a local insurance agency. My long term goal: To work with…

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